Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit. Tá a fhios agam nach bhfuil an tAire Stáit sa Roinn Sláinte in ann a bheith anseo inniu. Is mór an trua é sin ach tuigim go bhfuil cruinniú aici.

Tá orm an t-ábhar seo a ardú arís agus arís. Bhreathnaigh mé siar ar cé chomh minic is atá sé ardaithe agam agus cuireann sé alltacht orm i ndáiríre go bhfuil mé fós ag caint faoi Áras Mhic Dara i gcroílár na Gaeltachta, ionad lae atá dúnta anois ó am Covid. Tá na cúiseanna taobh thiar den áit a bheith dúnta ag athrú an t-am uilig - easpa foirne, easpa éilimh agus modúl nua. An uair dheireanach, dúirt mé go raibh sé thar a bheith deacair gan a bheith éadóchasach ó thaobh na bhfreagraí atá á fháil againn. Tá mé sa chás ceannann céanna inniu. Ag dul siar cúpla seachtain, bhí cruinniú poiblí i gConamara maidir leis an ábhar seo agus d’fhreastail cúpla céad duine air. Ní raibh na Teachtaí Dála a bhí ann in ann a mhíniú dóibh cén fáth go raibh an t-ionad lae seo fós dúnta. Ní rabhamar in ann agus bhí sé sin an-deacair dúinne mar Theachtaí Dála nuair atá ionad chomh riachtanach leis seo dúnta.

Unfortunately, faraor géar, I must raise the continued closure of the day centre in Connemara. I raised it as a Topical Issue matter a few months ago and previously under Questions on Policy or Legislation. I have raised it everywhere. When I look back, I am sure I am going to get the same answer from the Minister of State today although I really hope not. I know he is in a difficult position and that the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, cannot be here today. I had the choice of not taking this Topical Issue matter today but I chose to take because it is so important.

The ongoing closure of the day centre is simply unacceptable. I ask the Minister of State if he could depart from the script if it is no different from the previous script. At some stage, we need human intervention here from Ministers and the Government if the explanations keep changing. We are in the middle of a Gaeltacht area and this is what we are being told by representatives. I have a presentation in my hands - look at the size of this file. We got a wonderful presentation on Zoom and we were told it was going to open in April. April came and went; it was an April Fool, presumably. Then, May came and we were told it was going to open, and they managed to open it for one day and then closed it. They told us there was no demand. We are talking about a day centre for elderly people that everyone attended before Covid-19 . We were told there were not enough staff and then that it was for infection reasons. Then we were told there is a whole new model of social care.

As somebody at the meeting said, they are actually telling elderly people they would want to be able to run the city marathon before they can attend a day centre that is under the social care model because they have to be able to entirely look after themselves, take their medication and so on. That is the social care model, which is not suitable. I have no difficulty with it, but it is not suitable for the people we are talking about. They opened the centre for a day and nobody knew it was open. They did not tell the radio or the newspapers.

We now have a situation where HIQA representatives have visited three times in recent years. The last one gave it a glowing report with regard to the nursing care. Unfortunately, this time and the previous time, they did not even mention the day centre, which is of great concern to me. It is underutilised as well in terms of the bed capacity. It is getting a glowing report from the staff and residents. However, it is underutilised as a nursing home and as a day centre; it is non-existent.

What am I really doing as the end of term approaches? I am appealing to the Minister of State on a human level. I ask that he please not read out a script to me if it is the exact same answer as the last time. I understand his difficulties and that he is standing in for another Minister of State. He might please tell me, in his opinion, whether this is acceptable.

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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I am sure the Deputy will appreciate that I am not a Minister of State in that Department. Therefore, it is very difficult for me to come into this Chamber and depart from a script when I am not over the issue. I would appreciate if we could be fair on the issue.

On behalf of the Minister of State with responsibility for mental health and older people, I assure Deputy Connolly that the Government has been driving important reform initiatives, working to deliver on the objectives of Sláintecare and building the capacity of our health service to address the changing needs of our growing and ageing population.

A key focus of our Sláintecare reform programme is recognising the need to enable older people to age well at home and in their communities for as long as possible with the correct wraparound supports. Older people want to age well at home and it is important the supports they need are in place, including wraparound services like home support, day services and meals on wheels.

There should be no doubt that investment in social care and home support has been a substantial priority for me and the Government. In May, the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, announced the allocation of €5.25 million funding for meals on wheels and day centres for older people to organisations throughout the country. In addition to this, a further €2.1 million was secured for dementia-specific community day services. Access to centres can make an important contribution to our goal to support older people to age in place in their communities by providing invaluable support, advice and social interaction for older people who may, for any number of reasons, be experiencing isolation and loneliness.

As the Deputy is aware, the Health Service Executive has operational responsibility for planning, managing and delivering health and personal social services. A wide range of core services are provided for older persons, including home support, day care and community supports in partnership with voluntary groups and intermediate care as well as long-stay residential care when remaining at home is no longer feasible. These services are fundamental to the health and well-being of our older population.

The Minister of State, Deputy Butler, is committed to working alongside HSE Community Healthcare West to ensure those who need to access health services can avail of such services within their community. The HSE has provided reassurances that, as previously committed to and planned, it will provide a day service at Áras Mhic Dara that will cater for eight to ten people. An area within the centre has been identified for providing the service. It is planned that two healthcare support assistants will be employed when the day service is operational, with the support of a clinical nurse manager off site. A minimum of eight people is necessary to reopen this service.

To date, only one person has expressed an interest in the day centre. The HSE has advised the Department of Health that all communications regarding the day services were provided to the local public health nurses and GPs in the area. The HSE has further advised that the message was also broadcast through the local media and that local politicians in the area were informed.

The Minister of State, Deputy Butler, previously promised the Deputy that her officials would monitor the position. They will continue to engage with the chief officer in community healthcare west in respect of this matter.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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I am always fair or attempt to be. I realise the Minister of State is in a difficult position. However, he will understand the frustration I have outlined on behalf of the people. A day centre is closed and the reasons for that are constantly changing. We were told the place was not suitable. I welcome that there is now a commitment to open it in the nursing home. That is new. The position has been changing all the time. We have now been told that information was broadcast. That did not happen. The HSE opened the centre for a day without telling anyone and then said there was no demand. No attempt has been made to reach out to the area and talk to the people. The GP spoke at a public meeting for at least 20 minutes and outlined the great need for a day centre in the area. None of that seems to have taken hold with the HSE. I want to work with the HSE. In March or April when it made a presentation we were delighted a date was given for the day centre to re-open but it did not re-open. When I stand here agus frustrachas orm ó thaobh an ábhair seo agus go bhfuil an t-ionad fós dúnta, is ar son mhuintir an cheantair atá sin á dhéanamh agam. Bheadh sé i bhfad níos éasca gan an t-ábhar seo a ardú go rialta mar atá sé ardaithe agam. Ar a laghad, tá geallúintí anois go mbeidh an tseirbhís á oscailt arís laistigh den ionad agus go mbeidh foireann curtha ar fáil ach tá i bhfad níos mó oibre ag teastáil chun a chur in iúl do na daoine go bhfuil an tseirbhís ar fáil. This has to be resold to the people. They must be told that the day service is considered essential and will be available and functioning. An educational and communications programme is needed to let people know it is open and available.

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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I note the Deputy's comments. I will raise the local issues with the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, including advising people of the process that is in play. As already stated, the Minister of State announced €5 million for day care centres and meals on wheels. This is pertinent, important and key for the local community. I will bring the matter to her attention. As I am not a Minister of State in the Department of Health, I cannot go into any further detail at the moment.